nity to demonstrate their
courage. Some of them were scared stiff, but went because of their
consciences, some of them wanted to fight and some of them didn't, but
whatever the reason, they went. And now they are back, and it is much
more important to know what they think now about war than what they
thought about it when they were enlisted or drafted. If their baptism
of fire has made them hate cruelty and injustice, if it has opened
their eyes to the dangers of a dreaming idealism which refuses to see
evil until evil has had its way, if it has made them swear to purge
America of the things which has made Germany the slimy crawling enemy
of the universe, if they have come back feeling that God is in His
Heaven but that things can't be right with the world until we come to
think in terms of personal as well as of national righteousness--if
they have come back thus illumined, then we can concede to them their
great adventure. But if they have come back to forget that democracy
is on trial, that we have talked of it to other nations and do not know
it ourselves, if they have come back to let injustice or ignorance
rule--then they had better have died on the fields of France----"

He stopped suddenly amid a startled silence. Not a sound from any of
them.

"I beg your pardon," he laughed a bit awkwardly, "I didn't mean to
preach a sermon."

"Don't spoil it, _please_," Aunt Claudia begged brokenly; "I wish more
men would speak out."

"May I say this, then, before I stop? The future of our country is in
the hands of the men who fought in France. On them must descend the
mantles of our great men, Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt--we must walk
with these spirits if we love America----"

"Do you wonder," Randy said, under his breath to Becky, "that his men
fought, and that they died for him?"

She found her little handkerchief and wiped her eyes. "He's
a--perfect--darling," she whispered, and could say no more.

Dalton was for the time eclipsed. He knew it and was not at ease. He
was glad when Mrs. Paine stood up. "I am sorry to tear myself away.
But I must. I can't be sure that Susie has made up the morning rolls.
There's a camp-meeting at Keswick, and she's lost the little mind that
she usually puts on her cooking."

Randy and the Major went with her in the low carriage, with Rosalind
making good time towards the home stable, and with Nellie Custis
following with flapping ears.

Dalton stayed on. The Jud